Fwd: Bamboo, Hospitals, and Horses

Date: Mon, Apr 28, 2014 at 12:45 PM
Subject: Bamboo, Hospitals, and Horses
To: Lindy Taylor <lindyjtaylor@gmail.com>

Hey y'all!

This week was a great one for teaching! I felt like we taught a LOT every day. Before all the good stuff, on Wednesday we had an especially lovely adventurous day. While searching for somewhere to tract, we found a big bamboo forest and pulled over for a brief impromptu photoshoot. I'll include a few next week when I remember my camera. :/

Shortly after, we were walking up a particularly long driveway when a pale yellow dog came running out to us. Our fears were quickly dismissed as it licked us, smiled, and assigned itself as our third companion. I named him Scotch. I fell in love with that dog!! He walked with us for nearly an hour. We felt extra safe and protected as he showed us around the neighborhood. When it came time to leave, he raced our car to the end of the street and tried to climb in. It was sad to leave him behind, but fun to make a new friend.

Rachel, our investigator currently hospitalized, is progressing well. We taught her every day for five days last week in the hospital. She was sometimes groggy or in pain from the meds, but she lightened up with the Spirit and was attentive and participatory by the end of each lesson. When we taught about the three degrees of heaven, she said that she'd seen the sun, moon, and stars on decorations and in stores throughout her life and she'd always felt drawn to them. They felt familiar. It was beautiful to see her eyes open to their meaning and see her fill with light. She's in a rehabilitation center this week, but depending on her health she should be able to come to church next week and get baptized the following Saturday.

Poma is also progressing. It's baby steps with her. We're pretty sure she's bipolar, which makes sense knowing her background and behavior. We had a few great high's with her. She cried and cried when we taught about baptisms for the dead and missionary work in the spirit world. Her mother committed suicide when Poma was young, and she had grown up being told her mother had gone straight to hell. She was overwhelmed with relief and joy when she learned that her mother still had a chance to learn and accept the gospel. That was a good step. She didn't come to church Sunday, even though a ride came to pick her up-- so we'll be addressing that with her on Tuesday.

We also have a promising referral appointment on Thursday. Please pray for Miracle, age nine, and Yvonne, Miracle's grandmother. They don't know much about the church yet but they want to join. They have a pretty horrific background, but have felt the Spirit the members have and want to be part of it. Hopefully we'll begin teaching them this week!

We had interviews with our mission president, President Wolfert, on Tuesday. It was brief, but in it he encouraged me to be okay with doing my best. I tend to expect perfection when I can see a better way to do things but achieve less than that. My best is good enough. When it sinks in it's very relieving to know that God doesn't expect more of us than we can give. The verses in Alma 7:11-16 really help me appreciate the Atonement and understand our role in salvation.

Tender mercy. We dropped in on Sister Lopez, a less active member who's recovering from cancer and training her (gorgeous!!) horse for the world championship this October. She was fixin to ride her horse, Howie, in the arena when we arrived, so she hollered us over and we watched her ride for a bit. Sister Alvey and I enjoyed it immensely. I loved watching and remembering all the things I learned from riding horses. She came over after her ride and bore her testimony of the Lord's blessings to her recently, especially pertaining to the horse. She'd been blessed financially, physically, and otherwise in acquiring and training the horse. It's a privilege to see how the Lord cares about we care about, and blesses us as much as we allow Him to.

Have a wonderful week!
Sister Taylor

Fwd: Amazing Grace, Bunnies, & German Hand Soap

From: Christa Taylor <christa.taylor@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Apr 21, 2014 at 1:01 PM
Subject: Amazing Grace, Bunnies, & German Hand Soap
To: Lindy Taylor <lindyjtaylor@gmail.com>

Happy Easter Y'all!!

It's been a wonderful week. Not particularly eventful, but very busy. This week I'm just sharing several stories from various aspects of mission life.

For your convenience, I've divided up each story into categories with catchy headlines. Enjoy :)

Dry Mormons: Why Not Wet Yet?

We put our investigator, Rachel (with the amputated toe issue) on date for baptism on Wednesday. Unfortunately she was hospitalized on Friday so we were unable to begin her lessons and get her to church. Her health is literally the only roadblock keeping her from being baptized. We're praying that everything will fall into place despite the obstacles. We're very grateful for a golden investigator!

M&M's: Real Incentives

Something we've been doing that I love is what we call the M&M, for Members and Missionaries. We teach an active family in their home about the First Vision, and have them write down names they feel inspired to invite to learn about the gospel. We then follow up with them a week later to see how their inviting experiences went, and sometimes bring M&M's as a treat and reminder. IT WORKS!! Names ALWAYS come. It keeps appointments effective and focused, and we're seeing referrals begin to surface. I hope I get to stay in this area long enough to see some of the fruit of the members' and our labors! Try this in your homes and families-- watch the 20 minute version of the Restoration video online and write down names of who the Spirit says to serve. I can promise names will come, whether of active members, family members, less active members, or nonmember friends. Everyone needs reaching out to in some way. It worked for me!

Germans & The Simple Joys of Hand Soap 

We were at Walmart (which, here in Canton.....has it's own....personality) on the soap aisle. A small, older german lady came up to me and asked me to help her find some antibacterial hand soap. I handed one to her and she asked, "Is it German?" I looked on the back and to my surprise, it actually was. When I told her she said "OH! I love you, I love you SO MUCH!! Thank you, thank you!!" She gave me a big hug, did a little happy dance, and put another bottle of it in her cart. My companion just watched this from the other end of the aisle. Day made.

Aaaaaanimals

We hand fed Sister Hitt's goat, Sister Alvey got whacked by a horse's head turning too quickly, we almost ran over a cute bunny wabbit, and we held baby chicks at the ward Easter activity. And Sister Alvey got bitten by a dog. She's allergic. Basically all the positive animal experiences happened to me, and all the negative ones happened to her. When we almost ran over the rabbit, it was dark and Sis. Alvey was driving. She was yelling and swerving, and I was saying, "It's okay, keep going, it's okay!" to which she said "IT IS NOT OKAY!!" Said bunny was just fine (we think?) and Sister Alvey and I are still friends.

Say it Again!

Sister Alvey and I wrote down all of our inside jokes on sticky notes and posted them to look at. There are about fifteen so far. We're becoming great friends. The last two weeks have felt like a month. I'm glad Sister Alvey and I still have a month left together because we are getting so much work done!!

Amazing Grace

Yesterday we performed with the ward choir for Easter singing Amazing Grace-- I accompanied-- and it was so beautiful. (I made up the accompaniment, and we had a few key changes-- so I was also simply grateful that all the right chords fell into place!). I felt an increased awareness and appreciation for the Savior's sacrifice and our relationship to Heavenly Father. I am looking forward to the Sacrament more each week so I can better understand what it means to renew my covenants and be clean again. Alma 34:38 has stood out to me this week, I encourage each of you to read it.

I love all yall! I'd love to hear from you! Address is

1150 Cole Dr SW

Lilburn, GA

30047

Love,

Sister Taylor

P.S. Pictures:

#1 This is the painting that a ward member did for me of the Mt. Timpanogos temple. Gorgeous right?

#2 Me with the baby chick. SO cute.

Fwd: It's Raining Pollen and Miracles!

Date: Mon, Apr 14, 2014 at 12:25 PM
Subject: It's Raining Pollen and Miracles!

Hey y'all!

 

It's raining pollen and miracles! Get ready to hear about some crazy miracles going on here in Canton.

 

First, the pollen. Every spring, because of all the trees, there are HUGE amounts of pollen in the air that create yellow-green layers of dust on cars, streets, even your shoes and clothes. It looks like Tinkerbell and her friends went crazy on pixie dust. It also is awful if you're allergic to it. I'm usually fine but have occasional bouts of ridiculous allergies. It's a pretty interesting phenomenon. I'll send pictures next week.

 

Oh my goodness. I am so blessed to have Sister Alvey. To be brief, let me tell you a little about her:

1) She's from Layton, UT

2) She's a Disney princess and actress. She worked for theatrical companies/Disney at balls, birthday parties, and events as Mereda (from Brave), Rapunzel, Tinkerbell, Cinderella, Ariel, Dora the Explorer, Barbie, and more. She's grown up on the stage, and her favorite role so far was Havala in Fiddler on the Roof.

3) She is a Disney fanatic. (Kind of a given, see #2). Calendars, mugs, stuffed figures, pj's, you name it. It's Disney.

4) She is a funny girl. Who needs movies when you can listen to Sister Alvey talk?

5) She got to help three friends get baptized before her mission.

 

Spiritually, too, Sister Alvey is on top of it. God knew I had a lot to learn when He put us together. She has several of the strengths I want but don't have yet. She has clarity in her teaching, understands our investigator's needs, has a solid understanding of the doctrine and knows how to defend it, and she lives the gospel because she knows it works and it's real. She is an incredible missionary. She just hit her nine month mark this week-- she'll be glowing by the time her 18 months are up! I know I won't ever be Sister Alvey, but Sister Alvey is sure helping me to become the best Sister Taylor I can be.

That, and I feel like I've accomplished more in 1.5 weeks than I did all last transfer. Referrals, contacts, investigators, and progression with investigators are coming out of nowhere-- and that was done in half the time we normally have to proselyte because of meetings every day this week! We also have a new ward mission leader and every missionary in the ward has been here six weeks or less. It's a fresh start and miracles are happening every day in Canton. We're on fire.

OH THERE IS ONE HUGE MIRACLE I FORGOT TO TELL YOU

 

Remember my investigator, Victor, in my last area that I talked about? He got BAPTIZED last month!! YAY!! I was transferred a few weeks prior so I couldn't attend the baptism, but Sis.Alvey says he still totally counts as one of my converts.

 

AAAAAAANDDDD

 

Because I taught him, I got to go with all the other missionaries that baptized last month to the TEMPLE on Thursday!!! It was a picture perfect morning; could not have been any better. I left feeling like my cup was filled. It was an unexpected blessing and privilege to go. The Atlanta Temple is beautiful.

 

We have one investigator on date, Poma. She's lived a life full of drugs and dark places. Sister Alvey has lots of experience working with people in her situation so she's been key to helping Poma. Poma has a baptismal calendar to help her move toward baptism, and is excited to start reading the illustrated version of the Book of Mormon, since the real one is too difficult for her right now. It's definitely stretching my faith because I have a hard time seeing Poma change so much in so short a time. But it's up to me to teach and facilitate a spiritual environment, and up to her to change. I'll do my part.

 

We have another investigator, Rachel, in her 70's, and her daughter is a recent convert of 15 months. Rachel is as golden as they come! She literally asked us, "What can I do to prepare to be baptized?" We're going to start teaching her the lessons this week. We just have one itty bitty problem. She has many health issues, including a recently amputated toe and foot infection, which can't be submerged underwater.

 

........

What do you do if your investigator can't go underwater?!?  

 

They didn't teach me that in the MTC.....Well, we're going to pray, teach her, set a date, walk her to the font, and watch the Lord work. If the Lord wants her to be baptized, we know she will be. :)

 

Oh gosh, as I type miracles are happening! About a month ago we met a man, Eugene, on the side of the road briefly who seemed interested in coming to church, but we didn't get any contact info. He just walked into the library and sat down next to me, here as we speak! He was surprised I remembered his name, accepted an invitation to get a church tour, and when I gave him a Mormon.org card he said, "I'm gonna look it up right now!" So he browsed Mormon.org while I sat here typing up about miracles. Wow.

 

P.S. to above miracle, next to him sat another potential we met in the gas station a few weeks ago. AND a lady we met at a bus stop. Okay, okay. Fine. I guuueeesss we could squeeze in a couple more investigators.

I feel like Tevye, and all my rich man dreams are coming true! The Lord is blessing us immensely with work to do as we are obedient and seek to work. The work comes as we are obedient and faithful. I wish I could internalize that more for myself!

Oh, and I jumped between Sister Alvey and an attacking chihuahua. She's allergic to dogs. That's comp unity for ya.

Have a wonderful week!
Sister Taylor

 

P.S. A member in the ward painted the Mt. Timpanogos temple for me with whatever season and sky I wanted!! It's in the fall with a blue sky. I'll take a picture and send it next week. :)

 

Pictures in front of the Atlanta Temple. :)

 

--

"You don't blast a heart open," she said. "You coax and nurture it open, like the sun does to a rose." ― Melody Beattie

Fwd: Canton's on Fire! (Literally)

From: Christa Taylor <christa.taylor@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Apr 7, 2014 at 1:29 PM
Subject: Canton's on Fire! (Literally)
To: Lindy Taylor <lindyjtaylor@gmail.com>

Y'ALL!

For explanation of the subject line, see attached photograph. Nothing to worry about. Enough said. We're great cooks.

It's been a whirlwind of a week, but in the best way possible! I got my new companion on Wednesday, Sister Alvey, and I am SO lucky to have her. She is on fire, determined and focused, and she pushes me to be the best missionary I can be. Thus far we get along splendidly. I've felt like I've just been floating and not accomplishing much over the last several weeks in this area, but now I feel grounded and re-focused, and happy. I am so privileged to be working with her!

Classic DOG story. We were climbing a particularly long and steep driveway when a huge dog (Great Dane or boxer I think) came running out at us. Not kidding; it's eyes were like evil dark pits and were red in the center!

We thought we were gonna die.

But we didn't. We slowly backed down the driveway, step by step, while I said "Easy, eeeeeasy" to the dog over and over. Eventually we were safely at the bottom and a little kid came out to get the dog. So apparently it's not a ruthless monster to everyone. Just missionaries probably. But it sure got our adrenaline pounding!

Another funny story. On Tuesday, all of us local missionaries were gathered outside the church waiting to start district meeting, but no one there had a key so we were locked out. From a previous...experience...I just so happened to know that one of the windows had no screen and was unlocked. So, being the problem solver I am, I hopped in through the window and opened the church doors from the inside. Unfortunately I hopped in a little too quickly and scraped up my leg a bit. It's one of those sad occasions when you actually have a good story to go with the injury, but it sounds illegal or sketchy so you can't really explain it casually. "Oh, that? I just got cut on a brick while climbing through a window." Yeah, it's a no go. But a fun story to tell. See attached photo. :)

This week we found and started teaching an investigator, Eileen, who is now progressing. She's in her sixties, has the sweet honeypea southern accent from Alabama, and to say she loves her Bible would be an understatement. She responded well to the message about Joseph Smith and the First Vision. When we asked her to pray about the Book of Mormon to see if it was true, she said, "I don't need to, I know it's true! It must be." Well....okay then! We're excited to work with her.

We have a goal to find someone to baptize or at least put someone on date for April 26th. It's a goal set in faith but I know that good will come from it. Please pray for Eileen and that we'll be able to meet this goal.

I learned a valuable lesson on exact obedience yesterday. Between general conference sessions on Sunday, the bishop and his family had offered to feed both us and the elders in the church gym, but we have a mission rule that elders and sisters can't eat together at meals. I was satisfied to have us sit at different tables, but Sis. Alvey insisted we move the tables and close the dividers so we were in different rooms. The bishop and his wife were grateful for the example of obedience we set. Soon after, the bishop's wife told us of a referral she'd like to give us. I was humbled and learned from Sister Alvey, and learned that tangible blessings come from obedience.

I thoroughly enjoyed General Conference this weekend! What a treat and privilege to hear from the prophet and apostles and leaders of the Church. I particularly liked L. Tom Perry's example of the team of horses, because I wrote a similar comparison in my study journal just last week about horses and submitting my will to the Lord.

I feel like my efforts are more real now. I am so grateful for Sister Alvey. Have a lovely week of spring!

Love,

Sister Taylor

P.S. Our house shook from thunder this morning. Hopefully tornado season passes by uneventfully (though it would be cool to say I saw a tornado on my mission. :) ).